Corn, wheat, soybean plantings all up from March

WASHINGTON — Planted area for corn, all wheat and soybeans were above plantings intentions indicated in March, while corn and soybean numbers also were above year-ago plantings but wheat was below, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in today’s annual Acreage report.

U.S.D.A. numbers for corn, soybeans, all wheat, spring wheat and durum all were above trade expectations.

Area planted to corn was estimated at 87,035,000 acres, up 2,049,000 acres, or 2%, from March intentions and up 1,053,000 acres, or 1%, from 85,982,000 acres in 2008, the U.S.D.A. said. Corn area for harvest was estimated at 80,107,000 acres, up 2% from 78,640,000 acres a year ago. The corn planted area was above trade expectations that averaged near 84 million acres. Corn planted area would be the second highest since 1946 after the record 2007 crop, the U.S.D.A. said.

Soybean planted area was estimated at 77,483,000 acres, up 1,459,000 acres, or 2%, from March intentions and up 1,765,000 acres, or 2%, from 75,718,000 acres last year, the U.S.D.A. said. Area for harvest was estimated at 76,547,000 acres, up 2.5% from 74,641,000 acres in 2008.

Area seeded to spring wheat other than durum was estimated at 13,772,000 acres, up 468,000 acres, or 3.5%, from March intentions but down 363,000 acres, or 2.5%, from 14,135,000 acres in 2008. Area intended for harvest was estimated at 13,205,000 acres, down 2% from 13,487,000 acres in 2008.

Durum seeded area was estimated at 2,555,000 acres, up 110,000 acres, or 4%, from March but down 176,000 acres, or 6%, from 2,731,000 acres in 2008. Durum area for harvest was estimated at 2,453,000 acres, down 5% from 2,584,000 acres in 2008.

Winter wheat planted area was estimated at 43,448,000 acres, up 559,000 acres, or 1%, from 42,889,000 acres indicated in March but down 2,833,000 acres, or 6%, from 46,281,000 acres last year. Harvested area was estimated at 34,787,000 acres, down 4,827,000 acres, or 12%, from 39,614,000 acres in 2008.

All wheat area was estimated at 59,775,000 acres, up 1,137,000 acres, or 2%, from March intentions but down 3,372,000 acres, or 5%, from 63,147,000 acres in 2008. Harvest area was estimated at 50,445,000 acres, down 9% from 55,685,000 acres a year ago.

Rice plantings were estimated at 3,018,000 acres, up less than 1% from 2,995,000 acres in 2008. Harvested area was estimated at 3,000,000 acres, also up about 1% from 2008.